Many Iowa State University students have no idea that campus police have the same equipment.

Iowa State officials said they need the M16s to make the campus safer, but some students say the weapons are not necessary.

Students walking across campus Wednesday that KCCI's Vanessa Peng talked to said they didn't know about the seven M16 military style rifles on campus until we told them.

"I had no idea that they've been here, are here and have been her for this long. I am just kind of mind blown actually," said Mallory Pech, an ISU freshman.

ISU police got the weapons through a federal giveaway program known as the 1033 program. The Department of Defense provides military surplus gear to law enforcement agencies that apply for them.

"We have a responsibility to protect the campus community. We have the potential to have the same issues on campus that can happen to any community," said Madden.

ISU police applied and received the seven M16s in 2010.

With events like VEISHEA riots over the years and a high speed chase last November that led to an officer-involved shooting, Iowa State has seen its share of dangerous situations.

"A rifle provides better control obviously it can be used from a distance that's further away than a handgun so there are certain circumstances where we think that provides better protection for the university community," said Madden.

Madden said the M16's are locked up in gun safes and only state-certified and trained officers have access to them.

Officers at all three of Iowa's state universities weren't even allowed to carry handguns until just seven years ago.

Some students we talked to Wednesday had mixed feelings about the guns on campus.

"I don't think they need them. They're not necessary for what our campus is," said Pech.

"It doesn't bother me. I think they know best what they need to have in order to get the job done," said Nathanial Mann, an ISU sophomore.

ISU police is the only agency at the major Iowa universities to own military equipment from the 1033 program.